Agent apparatus

Abstract

An agent apparatus increases security, and can make responses suited to individuals, thereby increasing convenience. The agent apparatus comprises an individual recognition unit which recognizes individuals who use a vehicle; a memory unit which stores agent data corresponding to each individual recognized by the individual recognition unit; a selection unit which selects agent data corresponding to a specific individuals recognized by the individual recognition unit from the agent data stored in the memory unit; and a response unit which responds to the individual based on the agent data selected by the selection unit.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An agent apparatus comprising: 
       an individual recognition unit which recognizes individuals who use a vehicle;  
       a memory unit which stores agent data corresponding to each individual rcognized by said individual recognition unit;  
       a selection unit which selects agent data corresponding to a specific individual recognized by said individual recognition unit from the agent data stored in said memory unit;  
       a response unit which responds to the individual based on the agent data selected by said selection unit;  
       an input unit which inputs commands from the individuals who use the vehicle;  
       a command execution unit which executes commands input from said input unit; and  
       a learning unit which changes the content of the agent data stored in said memory unit in accordance with commands input from said input unit in a manner such that the agent apparatus learns the preferences of the individuals who use the vehicle.  
     
     
       2. The agent apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said response unit responds by using an impersonation method. 
     
     
       3. The agent apparatus as described in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a voice input unit for inputting voice of the individual, wherein the individual recognition unit identifies the individual by voice recognition.  
     
     
       4. The agent apparatus as described in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
       a voice output unit for outputting an artificial voice in response to the input of the voice of the individual.  
     
     
       5. The agent apparatus as described in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
       a display unit for outputting an image in response to the input of the voice of the individual.  
     
     
       6. The agent apparatus as described in  claim 3 , wherein 
       the memory unit extracts data corresponding to a request by the voice of the individual, and  
       the response unit responds to the individual based on the data corresponding to the request.  
     
     
       7. The agent apparatus as described in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a navigation system which provides information using the response unit based on the agent data selected by the selection unit.  
     
     
       8. The agent apparatus as described in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a sensor for in-vehicle amenities which provides information using the response unit based on the agent data selected by the selection unit.  
     
     
       9. An agent apparatus comprising: 
       an individual recognition unit which recognizes individuals who use a vehicle;  
       a memory unit which stores agent data corresponding to each individual recognized by said individual recognition unit;  
       a selection unit which selects agent data a corresponding to a specific individual recognized by said individual recognition unit from the agent data stored in said memory unit;  
       a response unit which responds to the individual based on the agent data selected by said selection unit; and  
       an on-board communication unit which transmits a response from said response unit to a portable communication unit carried by an individual who will use the vehicle, and receives commands from the individual who will use the vehicle which are transmitted from said portable communication unit.